Court Orders Conditional Release Of Rays’ Wander Franco Amid Investigation Involving A Minor

Shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays Wander Franco, Amidst an ongoing investigation into allegations that he had a connection with a 14-year-old girl and offered her 35-year-old mother thousands of dollars and a car in exchange for her permission, Wander Franco has been freed on condition.

Court Orders Conditional Release Of Rays’ Wander Franco Amid Investigation Involving A Minor

According to Associated Press reporters Martín Adames Alcántara and Dánica Coto, court records show that Franco is free to leave the Dominican Republic, but he needs to come back once a month to speak with officials.

The Rays player was ordered to pay 2 million pesos, or about $34,000, and was given permission to leave the Dominican Republic as long as he returned once a month to appear in court in Puerto Plata. He was also accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl.

The girl’s mother, who Franco offered a vehicle and money in exchange for her permission, is also accused of money laundering and commercial sexual exploitation, along with the 22-year-old Rays star, according to court records.

According to the Associated Press, the girl’s mother, 35, is employed at a nearby bank. She was given the order to remain under house arrest.

More details were offered by MLB insider Héctor Gómez.

“A judge has ruled that Wander Franco must post bail for 2 million Dominican pesos, about 35k dollars and present himself to court once a month for 6 months as part of the process against him. The mother of the minor in the center of the allegations who’s accused of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundry was ordered to remain on House Arrest and can’t leave the Dominican Republic.”

Three allegations have been made against Franco, who turned 22 in March, according to ESPN’s Juan Recio (via ESPN’s Jeff Passan).

In the Dominican Republic, consenting is at the age of 18. According to Passan, “anyone over 18 who engages in a sexual relationship with someone younger than 18 can be charged criminally.”

On December 28, Recio offered further details: “At least two people have filed legal action against Franco. He is also under investigation for allegedly having a relationship with a third minor, sources told ESPN, although there has been no formal complaint to authorities from the third girl.”

Authorities in the Dominican Republic stated that they started looking into Franco after getting a tip in July from someone who saw a media article implying the couple’s relationship.

A social media post from August implied that he was in a relationship with a minor.

Authorities claim Franco removed the juvenile from her Puerto Plata home in December 2022 and, with the girl’s mother’s permission, had a four-month relationship with her.

Before getting injured in August, when Dominican Republic officials started looking into reports that he had dated a child, Franco was having an All-Star season.

After conducting its own investigation, Major League Baseball placed Franco on the restricted list on August 14 and then placed him on administrative leave on August 22. Both inquiries are still in progress.

In 2021, Franco agreed to an 11-year contract for $182 million. He made $2 million a season last year and this year.

How many career hits does Wander Franco have?

Career Stats
Season Team H
2021 TB 81
2022 TB 87
2023 TB 124
MLB Career – 292

Does Wander Franco have a wife?

Wander Javier Franco and Wander Alexander Franco, his brothers, were players with the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros, respectively. Following the 2021 MLB season, Franco tied the knot with his fiancée.

 

 

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